Drew Sidora’s Hidden Health Battle: Adenomyosis, Empowerment & What Every Woman Needs to Know

Mian Hamid November 14, 2025

Drew Sidora’s Hidden Health Battle: Adenomyosis, Empowerment & What Every Woman Needs to Know

Drew Sidora — actress, singer and a familiar face from Step Up and Real Housewives of Atlanta — has used her platform to reveal a private, painful medical story that many women silently endure. Her candor about adenomyosis (a uterine condition related to endometriosis), the medical decisions she’s faced, and the emotional toll of chronic gynecologic pain have pushed a private health conversation into public view. That matters: it drives awareness, reduces stigma and highlights gaps in the U.S. health system. 

Sidora publicly revealed that she was diagnosed with a uterine condition (reported as adenomyosis, a condition related to endometriosis) and that the pain and symptoms had been severe enough to make her consider major surgery, including the possibility of hysterectomy. She has also discussed elective body procedures and her reasons for them, and has participated in mental-health and wellness events. 

Why that disclosure is important: adenomyosis and endometriosis are frequently underdiagnosed, can cause years of pain and infertility, and often carry social and emotional costs — especially for women of color who report barriers to timely care. 

Adenomyosis occurs when endometrial tissue (the lining of the uterus) grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, producing heavy bleeding, painful periods, chronic pelvic pain and sometimes an enlarged uterus. Diagnosis can be challenging because symptoms overlap with fibroids and other pelvic conditions. Current mainstream medical guidance lists hysterectomy as the only definitive cure for adenomyosis, although less invasive treatments can manage symptoms for many patients. 

Endometriosis — a related but distinct condition where endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus — affects an estimated portion of reproductive-age women in the U.S. studies place prevalence in the single digits up to around 10–11% (depending on methods and population sampled). Both disorders can cause infertility, chronic pain and diminished quality of life. 

In the U.S., hysterectomy remains a common procedure for several uterine conditions: the CDC reports that roughly 14–17% of adult women report having had a hysterectomy (age-adjusted figures around 14.6% in recent surveys), and hysterectomy remains one of the most frequently performed surgeries for gynecologic problems. Because it permanently removes fertility and can carry long-term health implications, it is frequently the subject of intense decision-making when recommended for conditions like adenomyosis. 

Sidora has also explained why she pursued cosmetic procedures such as liposuction and the broader impact of public scrutiny on her body. For public figures with chronic gynecologic conditions, the interplay of body pain, reproductive concerns, public image and the pressure to appear “fine” on TV is complex. Sidora’s openness about both medical and cosmetic choices invites a more humane conversation about the difference between elective aesthetic care and medically necessary surgery — and how both are shaped by gendered expectations and media commentary.

  1. Diagnosis delays are common. Researchers report long delays — sometimes a decade — between symptom onset and a definitive diagnosis for endometriosis and related disorders. That means many women live with unmanaged pain for years. Sidora’s public admission helps normalize speaking up and seeking second opinions. 

  2. Treatment paths are personal and nuanced. For some people, symptom control (hormone therapy, pain management, targeted procedures) is preferable; for others, hysterectomy is the final solution. The “right” path depends on symptom severity, fertility goals, coexisting conditions and patient preferences. Sidora’s consideration of hysterectomy reflects this difficult calculus.

  3. Disparities in care. Black women in the U.S. often face higher hysterectomy rates and disparities in gynecologic care access and outcomes. Conversations by Black public figures about their reproductive health help highlight systemic issues — including bias, delayed referrals and unequal access to specialized gynecologic care. (See research on hysterectomy prevalence by race and analyses of surgical trends.) 

  • Endometriosis prevalence: Systematic reviews place endometriosis prevalence in the reproductive-age population at roughly 6–10% globally, with some U.S. estimates clustering around 10–11% depending on methodology. That equates to millions of people who could be affected by chronic pelvic pain and infertility. 

  • Hysterectomy prevalence in the U.S.: Around 14–17% of adult women report having had a hysterectomy (age-adjusted rates ~14.6% in the most recent national survey). The surgery remains common, but its indications and alternatives demand individualized counseling.

  • Track symptoms carefully. Keep a symptom diary (menstrual flow, pain scales, fatigue, bowel/bladder symptoms) to share with your clinician.

  • Push for definitive evaluation when symptoms are severe. Transvaginal ultrasound or MRI can help detect adenomyosis; laparoscopy is often used to confirm endometriosis. If pain or bleeding is uncontrolled, ask about specialist referral (gynecologist with expertise in minimally invasive surgery or a reproductive endocrinologist). 

  • Consider multidisciplinary care. Chronic pelvic pain benefits from a team approach — gynecology, pain specialists, pelvic-floor physical therapy, mental-health professionals and, when fertility is a concern, reproductive specialists.

  • Get informed on treatments and fertility impacts. Hormonal options, conservative surgery and assisted reproductive technologies can preserve fertility; hysterectomy eliminates uterine-based fertility but may be appropriate for severe, refractory disease. Discuss risks, benefits and alternatives with a trusted specialist.

Tags: